An economic development group in a west-central Saskatchewan community is checking the feasibility of starting a farmer-owned seed cleaning/seed coating plant.
The idea is attracting rave reviews from farmers in the area, who now have to drive more than three hours either to Edmonton or North Battleford to reach the nearest plant.
Preliminary research through Saskatchewan Agriculture showed 60 percent of Canadian farmers who want seed coating services are not being served by the larger seed coating plants, according to Jimmy Pollard, regional economic development officer for the Macklin area, near the Alberta border.
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“We would target this plant more toward the smaller producer, and it would definitely be a big benefit to the area in terms of jobs and because we are not a two-industry area with oil and agriculture,” Pollard said.
“It would help us to ride out the ups and downs.”
If the plant goes ahead, it could mean up to 20 new jobs in the area, he said.
Shares are expected to be offered to local producers to cover the cost of the plant, Pollard said, but he declined to estimate what the cost might be.
Micronutrients applied
Brett Wagar, a local farmer and chair of the committee looking into the venture, said the plant would look at designing applications for micronutrients onto seed coats.
“Soils in Saskatchewan are still undergoing a drop in organic content,” he said.
“If we could get this established it could be an application for all of Western Canada.”
The $22,000 study is funded in part by the local economic development group with matching funds from a federal/provincial Partnership Agreement on Rural Development grant.
Saskatoon consulting company Trimension Group is expected to have a feasibility report finalized Dec. 3.
“So far they’ve said it looks quite positive,” Pollard said.
